Warfare in News

Posted on Friday 4th May

On 9 May 1941, the Royal Navy captured the first fully functioning Enigma machine complete with rotors and codebooks from the German U-boat 110.

The three rotors for an Enigma machine have been re-discovered in a storage cupboard, and are believed to have originated from HMS Mercury, the Royal Navy Signals School and Combined Signals School, as did the National Museum of the Royal Navy's Enigma machine.

The Enigma Machine was donated to the NMRN in 1983 by HMS Mercury and is a type M4 machine. It was probably used by the Norwegian Harbour Police, but is missing the reflector. The first rotor, therefore, has been adapted to enable it to do the reflector’s job. This makes the machine an unusual specimen.

It seems that the museum's machine and its rotors have been separated for the last 29 years, and they are due to be reunited on Wednesday, 9 May at an official handover at the NMRN by Commodore Mansergh to Professor Dominic Tweddle, Director-General of the Museum.

Further Reading

Only £19.99

Secret Days

(Hardback - 256 pages)
by Asa Briggs

The Bletchley Park memoir of Lord ASA Briggs will be one of the most important documents to be published in 2010. Lord Briggs has long been regarded as one of Britain's most important historians. He has never, however, written about his time at Bletchley Park.

The publication, which will coincide with Lord Briggs 90th birthday, is a meticulously researched account of life in Hut Six, written by a codebreaker who worked there… Read more...

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Dates in History

WWII: Victory for RAF in Battle of Britain

15th September 1940

RAF Fighter Command is claiming victory over the Luftwaffe after a day of heavy bombing raids ended in big losses for the enemy.
According to the RAF, 176 enemy aircraft were destroyed by fighter planes. At least another nine aircraft were hit by anti-aircraft guns.
British casualties were much lighter - only 25 aircraft lost with 13 pilots killed or missing.

Further Reading

High above the warm, summer fields Churchill's 'few' fought with courage & skill against overwhelming odds - and won. A vivid account of the air battles as well as an explanation of how the campaign developed. Fresh insights into the controversies with the aid of original material as well as… Read more at Pen & Sword...